I have to say I am really enjoying my life right now. I am able to nurture all the different sides of my personality and still eat (for now at least). My tech theater job keeps me in the show world as well as feeding the side of me that like tools and building big things. My masters project is going to feed my inner geek that enjoys the challenges that programming provides, namely problem solving and logic and a sort of abstract construction. My upcoming job as tech theater teacher will be fun because I'll get to teach people what I know (and learn with the students as well). My association with the Foothill Theater program is stimulating my artistic side and I'm getting back into some drawing and some artsy design stuff. I'm working on designs for home rackmount systems for computers and stuff, and about to start looking at chainmail stuff again.

The only segment about to go un-nurtured is my athletic, physical side. And I think when the quarter starts I'll return to ballet class and maybe swimming again. In the meantime I'm going to start running again, something I've been meaing to do for some time now.

All in all, life is good.

Got back earlier tonight from a 2 night camping trip in the Watsonville area. In particular the Mt. Madonna campsite. We had a great site, close but not next to trash cans, bathrooms and dish-washing spicket. The hiking wasn't great, but there was a trail right behind our campsite that was actually pretty good. Unfortunately we didn't find it until late in the day on Sunday and so didn't get to explore it too much.

I find it neat that I eat better when I go camping than when I cook at home. I made jambalaya on the campfire and had burgers and smores, and bacon & eggs for breakfast. Awesome. I forgot to bring coffee though and miss it sorely.

Played some cribbage which was cool since the only other time I've played was about a year ago on another camping trip.

My thing is I want camping to be easier. Namely I want my preparation to be shorter and my time at that campsite simpler. The jambalaya was a great success for that. I just prepped it at home (didn't take long) and then through it all in a pot and put it on the campfire. I really like the idea of backpacking but really need to go on a couple guided backpack trips before I feel confident enough to do a trip on my own. As for car-camping, I've gotten to the stage where I have some dedicated supplies and I just pack them up in rubbermaid containers and throw them in the car, so that's getting easier. Food is still the hurdle, and I'm getting better at that.

I think the trick is to plan stuff that doesn't need lots of accesories. Sandwiches and not good for that - mustard, mayo, lettuce, onion, bread, chees, meat. Too many things to store in individual containers. Things you can prep at home and put into a container or two and just break them out and heat 'em and eat 'em are great. Fajitas work pretty good if you are willing to forgo the salsa, sour cream, guac. etc... and even with the sour cream it's not bad (fajita mix, tortillas, s.c.).

Also, things you can cook in the same pan one after the other work well. Like bacon and eggs. We had bisquick with us too which was cool because we made biscuits to have with the jambalaya. However the bisquick stuff needed milk and eggs. We had a full quart of milk and barely used any. 'Course we would have used more if I had remembered the coffee...

Anyway, it was a good trip, we hiked, played frisbee, sang My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean, had some smores and played cards around the campfire. Good Times. :-)